May is known as Mental Health Awareness month. We took some time to delve into how one define's mental health and what are some of the symptoms that someone may have. Dr. Sanam Hafeez shares what this involves.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When people use the term, Mental Health what does that mean?

DR. SANAM HAFEEZ: The dictionary defines it as: “A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” To give it broader strokes, the term mental health is akin to mental fitness. It means, how “stable” is a person in their head? Do they have what would be considered normal reactions to everyday disappoints or situations? Can they manage anger? Can they make and maintain relationships? Do they engage in self destructive behavior? Are they violent? Do they abuse drugs or alcohol? Do they have post-traumatic stress or obsessive compulsive disorder? Do they have eating disorders?

AM: What is the importance of Mental Health Awareness month in May?

DR. SH: There is less of a stigma attached to forms of mental illness than there used to be. Even Princes Harry and William have taken this up as one of their philanthropic causes. There is a saying within mental health, and that is: “Your secrets keep you sick.” The more that celebrities such as Demi Lovato admit to battling some form of mental illness, the more everyday people have the strength to come forward and seek help. We have empathy (as we should) for people stricken with Cancer, Aids, Parkinson’s , etc. we must have the same understanding for people who carry the burden of depression, anxiety, addiction or other forms of mental illness. People do not need to suffer in silence, as many of these conditions can be treated with medication and therapy.

AM: In the last few years, there seems to be a focus on providing education and acknowledging the fact that taking care of ourselves within this space is just as important as a number of other things we do from day to day – why do you think that right now that this is something that we’re hearing a lot more about in the media, social media, personalities etc?

DR. SH: We live in a world where there is more openness and honesty than that of our parent’s generation. Our parents were taught not to “air their dirty laundry in public.” For all of the negatives that have been said about social media, and some are true, it has brought about forums that provide support for people. For example, one can find multiple support groups on Facebook for alcoholics in recovery, overeaters, compulsive gamblers, anxiety, anorexics, etc. Sometimes it takes just one influencer or celebrity to be the brave one and lead the way, and then more follow. For example, Dan Harris was a Good Morning America Anchor when he had a panic attack live on air. It terrified him, but he spoke candidly about it and went on to write a book “10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works.” Elizabeth Vargas, is a longtime anchor on ABC and host of 20/20. She had a well publicized battle with alcohol and has sat down for many interviews to discuss it. Most recently, TV host Wendy Williams admitted to a relapse with Cocaine and to staying in a sober living facility. Notable figures like these have made conversations about mental illness or addiction more acceptable and commonplace. They have brought it out of the closet and shown that anyone can be susceptible regardless of race, education, or social status.

AM: What are signs that one might be suffering from mental health whether we’re thinking about ourselves or someone we know?

DR. SH:

Loss of interest in things/people that that once enjoyed

Lack of self care

Sleeping too much or too little

Major decrease or increase in appetite

Isolating

Mood Swings

Giving away prized possessions

Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don't exist in objective reality)

Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)

AM: Many people think that within the topic of mental health that this is focused on those suffering from Bipolar, Schizophrenia or depression; however, what other conditions may follow under this area?

DR. SH: People can simply be situationally depressed. Situational depression means that a person is typically an even-keeled person who now finds themselves in a very distressing situation such as the loss of a child, parent or spouse. Perhaps their home has been foreclosed or they have been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer. These are all very mentally challenging situations and the person facing them will likely need help from a mental health professional to learn skills to cope and have a sympathetic unbiased ear to listen.

AM: What risks are involved when we don’t check in with how we are doing when it comes to mental health awareness?

DR. SH: Small problems can turn into big issues whether it is marriage, substance abuse, eating disorders, anger issues, depression, etc. You know yourself better than anyone else. If something feels “off” and your habits change your social life changes, your motivation is lacking, take a step back and asses what is going on. Never be ashamed to reach out for help. There is no such thing as doing it “too soon.”

AM: In living a life that is in constant motion, what are things that we can do whether it falls into self-care or seeking professional help etc. that should be placed into our routine to ensure that we have good mental health?

DR. SH:

Do your best not to overschedule yourself

Learn to say no to people or commitments that will overwhelm you

Make time for physical exercise

Eat a a balanced diet and make the most of the food you eat to nourish you and fuel your body

Decide who and what are the priorities in your life. Eliminate extraneous people and places.

Get rid of toxic people

If your job is making you miserable and you can quit for financial reasons, do your best to seek a new position while you are still employed

If you are in a verbally or physically abusive relationship get out of it

AM: Are there websites/apps that you feel are beneficial as a better way to establish proper mental health?

DR. SH:Calm focuses on the four key areas of meditation, breathing, sleep, and relaxation, with the aim of bringing joy, clarity, and peace to your daily life.

Headspace uses mindfulness and meditation to help you perform at your best each day. The app's mission is to provide you with the essential tools to achieve a happier, healthier life.

Moodnotes is a thought journal and mood diary. The app can be used to capture your feelings and improve your thinking habits through the implementation of CBT and positive psychology.

Moodpath is your pocket-sized mental health companion. Whether you are facing a rough patch or have concerns about your mental health, the app's goal is to support you through the difficult times and guide you out the other side.

AM: If there is anything that we should keep in mind when it comes to an area that we need to keep in mind regarding mental health.

DR. SH: Social media can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how you use it. If you are using it to join networking groups, support groups, or grow your business that’s constructive. If you are stalking an ex, or obsessing over how your selfies look and re-touching them for hours, that is not constructive. If you are spending your time comparing your life to others you know this can lead to depression. Remember, social media is a very edited and curated version of people’s lives and it is the rare person who shows their life warts and all. So get off your phone and live your best life!

Think back to your favorite movies and we guarantee that there are some action sequences. Although there are some actors that do their own stunts, most enlist a stunt person to make the scene truly look and feel as next level as possible. This month's cover girl is celebrity stuntwoman and athletic personality, Jessie Graff.

Jessie has been in a number of movies and TV shows. In addition, if you're a fan of NBC's American Ninja Warrior, then you have seen her crushing courses on this TV show as well while donning a Wonder Woman costume. We spent an afternoon with her shooting her for ourcover and this energetic woman showcased her athletic ability while also sharing anecdotes how she got into the business, where we have seen her as well as how she has honed her craft over the years.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was your journey to becoming a stunt woman from childhood to actually selecting this career?

JESSIE GRAFF: I wanted to be a super hero, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena Warrior Princess. I loved the physical part most, but didn't know that stunts were a separate job, so I always thought I'd be an actress. After majoring in theatre in college, I learned that the actors don't usually get to do their own stunts, so I immediately researched everything I could about stunt people. I read every article I could find, studied the stunt player’s directory, and foundout where stunt people trained. Then I got photos, made a demo reel, moved to LA, and signed up at every gym in where I could find stunt people. Then I copied everything they did, learned everything I could, and eventually, earned my place in the community.

AM: What type of training does one engage in order to become a stunt woman?

AM: Obviously, you're in great shape, what workouts do you suggest for great abs, glutes and arms?

JG: I organize all of my workouts into a 3 day cycle of push day, pull day, and leg day. It allows me to push each muscle group to the limit, and give it 2 days to recover, while I'm training the other 2 main muscle groups.

I suggest FORGETTING about how you want your body to look, and choosing workouts based on what you want to be able to do, and how you want to feel. If you want great arms, get hooked on rock climbing, gymnastics, or calisthenics. Set goals like climbing at a certain difficulty level or learning to do a kip on bars. Then do all the drills, progressions, and strength training to get those skills, and make a new goal 1 level higher. Want great glutes? Work on, bounding agility obstacles, improving your vertical jump, or learning parkour. When you get passionate about a hobby that requires those muscles, every workout is more inspiring, and there is no end. If you want an 8-pack, and you get there, how do you stay motivated to work out and eat healthy? How do you maintain it? But if you succeed in your goal of 10 pull ups, great! New goal: get 12, or 15 or 20.

AM: What are your go to foods between your travels, working out etc?

JG: I always carry B-up protein bars and roasted seaweed with me, because fruit/carbs are easy to find, but protein and vegetables are harder to grab on the go. Basic structure of any meal is 1-2 servings protein, colorful vegetables, 1 serving of carbs or fruit, all on top of a huge pile of dark leafy greens.

JG:Look for me with purple hair in Future Man on Hulu, and Bright on Netflix. Other projects are Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Transformers, The Dark Knight, Marvel's Agents of Shield, G.I. Joe, Die Hard...

AM: What is the process like in terms of casting when you are going into being a stunt person in a film?

JG: If there are lines, we go to auditions as actors. We send demo reels or they are submitted by the stunt coordinator, so that they know we are qualified to do the stunt required for the role. We are given lines anywhere from the day before to at the audition, read for camera,maybe have a call back, and are booked for the acting role. The auditions to be the main stunt double on a big action movie are the most fun. It's often a whole group of us in a gym, learningfight choreography, and showing off kicks, flips, weapons, and any other applicable skills for a couple of hours.

AM: How do you prepare for the roles that you participate in?

JG: I rarely get more than a week's notice for a job or big audition usually 1-2 days. I have to guess which skills are most likely to come up, and prepare for EVERYTHING, so that no matter what comes up, I can be prepared (hopefully). Training constantly in so many different disciplines, improves my ability to learn brand new movements faster, so that even if something totally new comes up, I can adapt.

AM: What is the thinking behind wearing the Wonder Woman costume during your American Ninja Warrior run?

JG: My first year, I dressed as a chicken to advertise my short film 'Epic Chick Fight,' but a parent messaged me on Twitter about her 6-year-old daughter, who had never been very physically active. After watching me, she said 'I like her. I like her outfit' then promptly dressed her Barbie like me, and went outside to climb the jungle gym with her. It made me realize how much impact my clothing choices could have on kids. Now, I choose outfits that seem most likely to inspire kids to be healthy and strong.

AM: When you're not training, what is your personal style when you're out and about versus when you're in the gym?

JG: My personal style is pretty much Under Armour shorts and sports bras, or maybe a tennis skort to shake things up. The world is my gym, so I dress for workouts at all times.

When I'm at work, I wear whatever the costume department puts me in. For super fancy red carpet type events, I require that the mid-section be fitted, and stretchy, with a full circle skirt that allows for full range of motion. I always wear shorts under my skirt, so that I can flip and kick without wardrobe malfunctions. Other than that, I don't understand why I would ever wear anything other than workout clothes or swim suits.

AM: We love your videos on Instagram with your pup and your pig, it's a great way to show your physique and to get to know your personality, how long does it take to do them?

JG: It takes about 30 seconds to toss spinach around the floor, to keep @SammoHog occupied and in frame, and 20 seconds to 5 minutes to shoot the video...well... up to 1 min for Instagram,but Facebook videos allow for longer workout clips. It rarely takes more than one take. Unless it's a compilation of multiple attempts. Those may take 30 min or so of trying and failing 20 times before I succeed, and another 5 minutes to edit.

AM: Are there any charities or philanthropy that you are a part of that you would like to share?

JG: I really want to do more to help educate people of all ages about healthy eating and exercise habits, and how to make them feel fun and effortless. I currently do that by sharing my own tips, tricks, and experience on social media, but would love suggestions on specific charities that deal with those topics.

AM: What advice would you give to a girl that is looking to get into the world of stunts?

JG: Don't pursue stunts unless you REALLY love it. You will get beaten up. You'll be cold and wet, falling down concrete stairs at 3am, or sweating in a full leather suit on an overheating motorcycle, on a 110 degree day in the desert. They will constantly throw crazy and unusualchallenges at you, and you'll have to think on your toes, to figure it out on the spot.

If working out 5-8 hours/day, and fighting to achieve seemingly impossible feats sounds like a dream job, do it. Work your butt off. Learn everything. Be smart. Be humble. Listen. Pay attention, and be helpful. If you are talented, work really hard, and have a great attitude, you will have an amazing career, a lifetime of adventure, and become friends with some of the most incredible people on the planet.

We get to be the unknown heroes of the film industry.

Our photoshoot with Jessie Graff took place at Henry Hall in NYC's Hudson Yards. We took a moment to find out more about the interesting concept of this residential property that also makes you feel like you live in a hotel as well.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What are the amenities offered at Henry Hall?

HENRY HALL: Henry Hall features a unique amenities package focused on the building’s club and lounge areas and elite food and beverage offerings. As part of its innovative programming,Henry Hall will debut Delicious Hospitality’s new restaurant, dubbed Legacy Records. The restaurant, bar and lounges will be spread over the building's first and second floors.

In addition to the restaurant and second floor lounge, Henry Hall residents will have access to an array of sought-after amenities, including a “jam room,” resident’s club room, private dining rooms and wine room, roof-deck, state-of-the art training center as well as exclusive access to Henry Hall Concierge for 24-hour service.

Henry Hall will also provide residents with Echo Dots connected to Amazon Alexa. The posh rental has equipped each of the 225 residences with an Echo Dot and created an Alexa skill tailored specifically for Henry Hall residents. Building Link, the leading online residentialmanagement system, has developed a custom skill that gives Alexa the ability to answer numerous requests that pertain specifically to residents. Voice commands that residents can make include the following: “Alexa, ask Henry Hall if I have any packages”; “Alexa, ask HenryHall if there are any events in the building today”; and “Alexa, ask Henry Hall when the gym will be open.”

AM: What is the concept behind the design of the building?

HH: Developed by Imperial Companies, on behalf of the joint venture partnership with Shorenstein, and with interior design by the renowned Ken Fulk, Henry Hall is Hudson Yard’s newest destination rental. In contrast to the glass towers dominating the Hudson Yards neighborhood, Henry Hall gives a thoughtful nod to ‘Old New York’ with its brick and steelfaçade. The 33-story building includes 225 studio to two-bedroom units with prices starting at $3,350.

Henry Hall is a new wave residential experience inspired by boutique hotel culture. Eric Birnbaum, Co-founder of Imperial Companies, and the vision behind Henry Hall, says his imagination was sparked by stays at The Bowery Hotel and The Battery SF, among other properties. “At Henry Hall, we take design and programming cues from boutique hotels. I fell in love with the idiosyncratic charm of their lobbies - the design elements, the way people move through them,” Birnbaum says.

Henry Hall creates social programming for like minded people, communal spaces to relax and recharge, exquisite meals & beverage, all with grand décor and a rooftop view.

AM: There is a distinct boutique hotel vibe to this residence - why is that and what offerings does the property provide to those who are not residents?

HH: Henry Hall will offer a residential option that merges New York’s nightlife and boutique hotel experience with luxury residential living. The residences were outfitted as a modern take on traditional grand hotels and in keeping with that theme the private lounges, jam room, rooftop deck, gym—were all created to extend the holistic experience of a boutique hotel. Launch programming features a summer music series, “Tuesdays at Henry Hall,” whichwelcomes residents and friends to enjoy a rotating cast of notable and socially influential DJs.

AM: Within the space that was included within our photoshoot, who decorated it?

HH: Ken Fulk, who has been dubbed “Silicon Valley’s creative disruptor,” and whose credits include The Battery SF among other high-profile residential and hospitality projects, worked with Eric Birnbaum to design the resident experience throughout all aspects of Henry Hall, from the eclectic lobby to the elegant lounges to the custom finishes in each residence.

Design elements in Henry Hall's grand lobby include a floor made of three different types of marble set in a herringbone pattern; a 10-foot-diameter custom brass chandelier retrofittedwith 24 cut-crystal globes from the 1930s; hand-scraped teak wall paneling with brass accents; a salon-style installation of vintage oil paintings and frame photography; tribal rugs; and antique furnishings.

AM: What are other selling points in this building?

HH: Henry Hall is truly a first of its kind: a destination and a community similar to a boutique luxury hotel or a members’ only club.

The residences include finishes such as ash hardwood flooring throughout and oversized windows that flood the residences with natural sunlight and provide sweeping city views. Gourmet kitchens are equipped with stark white quartz countertops and backsplashes,premium brass fixtures by Waterworks and stainless steel appliances by Bosch and KitchenAid. Custom hexagonal tiles line the bathroom floor and are accompanied by a medicine cabinet with integrated vanity lighting and polished nickel fittings. Each unit is equipped with a Bosch washer/dryer.

"Every space, however unique, public or private, is considered an essential part of the Henry Hall story. They become a defining element of the residential experience,” said Eric Birnbaum,Co-Founder and Partner at Imperial Companies. "So many people would love to live in their favorite hotel or have the City’s newest restaurant be just downstairs - Henry Hall makes that a reality.”

For more information about Henry Hall, please visit www.henryhallnyc.com.

AM: For those that are residents, what are the neighborhood selling points?

HH: Located at 515 West 38th Street, the site of the former Legacy Recording Studio, Henry Hall is at the epicenter of Hudson Yards and is redefining luxury for a new generation of NewYorkers. Hudson Yard’s close proximity to the major transportation hubs of the recently completed 7 train extension, Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal provide an array of convenient transportation options. Henry Hall is in close proximity to the city’s finest shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural venues and is surrounded by Chelsea and The Meatpacking District to the south and the Hudson River to the west.

AM: Is there anything that we should know about the Hudson Yard area?

HH: Hudson Yards is just north of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, adjacent to Hell’s Kitchen, stretching along the High Line and the river, and close to Midtown; an electric atmosphere in which you can work, play and live. A convergence of parks, public space, hautecuisine, shopping, easy access to transportation and stunning views of the river and cityscape make it easy to see why the neighborhood is booming.